PVR350 to MVP

[SFX Group]

Heres my idea...

I have GBPVR and a PVR350 card, due to the number of problems of crashing, files stopping and "red screens" i had this idea but need to understand it first.

From what i read GBPVR seems to have "stopped" support fotr the TV OUT on the PVR350, this was the whole idea i bought it (Hardware decoder) so...........

I looked at the MVP and understand this is a hardware decoder pulling data accross network from a "server", so to verify how does this work...???

MVP with drivers to a server (in this case the same box as the GBPVR) can the MVP be static IP address (as i see most are DHCP)?

How does the GBPVR work and interact with the MVP, how does it know as you are using a remote control with the MVP that what it needs to do to GBPVR?

There would seem to be "other" bugs with MVP like stopping, dropping and glitches, are these setup errors or just network topology problems? or worse just a new version of a bug like the "TV Out problem on the PVR350)?

The who idea will be to not use the PVR350 and replace it with a hardware encoder only (PVR250 or something) then not use the server to connect to the TV but instead this MVP (long way round but it should be more reliable)?

I am playing with the idea of SAGE.TV but i really think that might be worse and would like to say with GBPVR but i have to get somethign working...

Many Thanks
Ashley

[elite]

I also got the 350 for the same reasons as you and have had the same problems - although others seem to have none at all.

From what I understand (i don't own one yet..) the MVP is more reliable (the problems easier to troubleshoot and fix), the majority of the problems I've seen on these boards have been network related,,

I am playing with the idea of SAGE.TV but i really think that might be worse and would like to say with GBPVR but i have to get somethign working..

Stick with GBPVR - it's the best - The problems with the 350 (from what I understand) are not just in GBPVR, it is a problem with the hardware/drivers so expect the same issues on Sage, etc..

[SFX Group]

This link helps alot with the design of the MVP, tells how the firmware is updated everytime you turn it on from the file called "dongle.bin" which is nice, also it seems to indicate that its hardware MPEG2 decoder (which i like).

Seems more flexible but a long way round when i have a PC next to a TV that it needs to send it up a network cable but i cant control how cards are designed with floors.

Theres a few utilites on the WIKI site as well i notice there is an icon on the desktop to say what each MVP is doing like being idle or watching a file and which one (ive not read the whole thing so i might be wrong).

Nice idea.

I still need to confirm if you can give it a static IP address, i cant use DHCP its an overhead that i cant use here. Everything is static due to network security.

WIKI MVP stuff "http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FAQ/MVP"
WIKI MVP destop icon "http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FAQ/MVP"

Many Thanks
Ashley

[sub]

If I was you, I'd find a decent video card for your PC for connecting to the TV. This will give you the most responsive client, with support for all features (music visualisation, dvd playback, some cool stuff in the next release etc), and the ability to run pretty much any program you like.

I think the MVP makes a great secondary device (for bedrooms etc), but I wouldnt recommend it as your primary device if your PC is right next to your TV.

I am playing with the idea of SAGE.TV but i really think that might be worse and would like to say with GBPVR but i have to get somethign working...

Fair enough, but be warned, they have the same problems with the PVR350 tv out. That said, I think "publically" they still support the PVR350 tv out (paying customers and all that), so you may fair better in the long run if you want to persist with your PVR350.

[SFX Group]

Just so i understand this, isnt the MVP just an extension for the menu system to work?

As i have been using the TV out on the PVR350 for a while (over a year) its just i would like to nail down and get it working fully.

I dont watch LIVE TV, its just there for record and playback.

With the Server being on GBPVR doesnt this squirt the menu at the MVP the same way it was going out the PVR350 TV port or does the MVP not have a "menu overlay" as such in the same design?

And if the above is correct in it not having the same overlay idea then how does it get its menus? (ive seen the word "HTML" mentioned on the Hauppauge site for menu updating)?

Many Thanks
Ashley

[bgowland]

Ashley - the key thing is not 'how' it works, just the fact that it works.

In short, what I see on my TV is exactly the same as what I see in a window on my PC monitor, with the exception that the DVD button is hidden (can't play DVDs direct to MVP, they need to be converted to some other format).

Just think of it as a 'remote' TV-out with the data being carried digitally over IP via a UTP cable. The MVP then converts what it gets to analogue audio/video before sending it to the TV either by SCART or S-Video / composite depending on the connector type on the MVP.

There are some issues if you have video other than mpeg2 but that all depends on the individual - everything I record is mpeg2 (or is converted to it after recording) and playback is as good as my TV can provide.

As sub says above, though, don't bother with one if your PC and TV are close enough for a direct connection. I live with the MVP's few shortcomings simply because I don't want a PC in my living room.

Cheers,
Brian

[SFX Group]

I am happy if the output menu is the same as PC screen (as it is on the PVR350, i havnt had ANY menu issues on the PVR350 either).

What short falls do you have with the MVP, i wont be doing anything other than MPEG2, its for record then playback. Quiet simple. Have about 2 TVs (+ the main one) might get another so thats 3 + main one which i think will go to MVP as its easier.

I have a micro Supermicro board so it has about 3PCI slots, once is network, one PVR and one is spare, didnt want to use it really. The AGP is a Matrox BIOS output to TV so i cant remove that as the Server is for CCTV as well so needs a TV link.

I think it will work fine (i am looking to by a SCART MVP now) and give it a go, i have a feeling it will work once i know what the shortfalls are.

Many Thanks
Ashley

[bgowland]

What short falls do you have with the MVP, i wont be doing anything other than MPEG2, its for record then playback.

Your requirements sound similar to mine - I mostly just use my setup as a replacement for a VCR. 90%+ of what me and my wife record is watched and deleted within a short time of it being recorded - that's why I stick with mpeg2. I have lots of HD space so don't worry about converting to the more compressed formats. It's some of these formats which (I believe) aren't quite as stable as mpeg2 when played on the MVP - or they need a more powerful PC to handle the transcoding.

It's really just minor things (to me at least) which don't work (or work so well) on the MVP. The visualisations when playing music is cool on the PC but don't work on the MVP - I can live without them. Response using the remote & MVP is not as fast as, for example, the PC keyboard or a wireless mouse etc. - again I can live with that. LiveTV works OK from my analogue cards but isn't so good from my DVB-T cards - but then again, I have a digibox connected to my TV in the living room so I don't need LiveTV to come from my PVR.

As I said, I think your requirements sound similar to mine so the MVP would probably do what you need.

Ironically, since I posted my previous message, I've been wondering if I might try a direct connection approach. I've been meaning to put a hole through the floor of my spare room into the living room to re-route the MVP UTP cable. I'm wondering now if I might try an S-Video connection instead.

Cheers,
Brian

[SFX Group]

Many thanks, i will let you know the outcome, i am going to give it a try. I like GBPVR web admin end, other half can set recordings from work (as i set the webserver up to proxy it) then come home and watch it, assuming the PVR didn’t crash over what i hope is a PVR350 error (restarts or locks for no reason), that’s a complete desktop lock, nothing works.

I will be removing the 350 card and replace with another probs a 250 with hardware encoding. Do you need the front end running for the MVP to pic up the menu?

Also does it have to remain focused for the remote to work? This was a nightmare with the PVR350, as i didn’t use the PC if an error was on screen it took focus from GBPVR resulting in no remote working.

I am hoping i either don’t need the front end or i need to run it and minimise it.

Many Thanks
Ashley

[sub]

The front end software for the MVP runs within the recording services, so you dont even need to be logged in.